Local BOOZE

  Paradigm Spirits Co.

   The muse responsible for much of the content in MM (especially the bad stuff) went  AWOL a while back when the sun began to shine and, like most Canadian workers, has been reluctant to return to the office. On this rainy day a short post is provided under a title likely to be attractive to many people searching the Internet. I also will throw in here the words "bourbon" and "whisky", as well as "whiskey."
   Trump and tariffs are also mentioned since they are responsible for what follows. Given that free trade is no longer an option with the U.S., Canadians finally realized that they could not freely trade with Canadians in the other provinces in this country. For example, an award-winning whisky produced here in London at the old Kellogg Plant could not be purchased by a Manitoban.
   The irony involved was noticed in a foreign newspaper and both the irony and the article have not been reported on in the local press, since there isn't much of one (although De Bono does what he can.) Here is the important part of the piece about Paradigm Spirits:

"Trump’s Tariffs are Promoting Free Trade — in Canada: Politicians and Industry Leaders Have Long Pushed to Remove Barriers to Interprovincial Trade. Trump’s Tariffs are Giving the Effort New Momentum," Amanda Coletta, The Washington Post, July 26, 2025:

TORONTO — "In 2024, the grand prize at the Canadian Whisky Awards went to Paradigm Spirits. Its entrant, made with Canadian corn, aged for 19 years in American oak barrels and blended with a splash of Spanish sherry, beat some 200 competitors to be crowned Whisky of the Year. A judge called it “remarkable.” 
   It was a break for Paradigm, which had opened in an old Kellogg’s factory in London, Ontario, just a few years earlier. The women-owned-and-operated distillery was soon inundated with messages from Canadians across the country eager to buy the award-winning spirit, co-founder Irma Joeveer said.
   But there was a problem: Canada’s internal trade barriers. With few exceptions, alcohol producers in one Canadian province are prohibited from selling directly to consumers in another. Vintners in British Columbia, for instance, can often more easily sell their merlots to oenophiles in other countries than within their own.
   Politicians and industry leaders have long pushed to knock down these and other internal trade barriers, a patchwork of federal and provincial laws, regulations and professional licensing standards that add costs to doing business and complicate the flow of goods, services and workers inside the country."

   You can learn more about the award-winning whisky here:

"Paradigm Spirits Co. Crowned 2024 Whisky of the Year by Esteemed Judges at the Canadian Whisky Awards," Canada Newswire, Jan.25, 2024.

LONDON, ON, Jan. 25, 2024 /CNW/ - "Paradigm Spirits, a young and innovative distillery based in London, Ontario, is proud to announce that its 2022 Heritage Collection Whisky has been named 2024 Whisky of the Year by the distinguished panel of judges at the Canadian Whisky Awards. 
   The enduring yearly awards ceremony took place on January 18, 2024, coinciding with the Victoria Whisky Festival. It stands as the singular competition exclusively devoted to Canadian whisky. The panel of judges, numbering 10, meticulously sampled and rated close to 200 competing whiskies during blind tastings.... 
   This prestigious recognition reinforces Paradigm Spirits' commitment to excellence in crafting exceptional whiskies that captivate a broad spectrum of whisky enthusiasts, from newcomers to seasoned connoisseurs.
   Michelle Debus, partner at Paradigm Spirits, expressed her excitement stating, "We are thrilled to receive this prestigious award. As a young distillery, our passion for whisky drives our commitment to innovation. The 2022 Heritage Collection, a 19-year-old, 100% corn whisky, showcases our dedication to pushing boundaries in Canadian whisky making."
  To learn more about the company - Paradigm Spirits. To buy some, visit 100 Kellogg Lane.

Local Currencies

    In an attempt to support local businesses, I did just venture out for a bit and went to the abandoned Kellogg factory which now is a destination of sorts - do have a look and visit soon, 100 Kellogg Lane.  The line-up was too long and I am now again back blogging to avoid shopping. 

   I gather that a number of local vendors were available and, as an incentive, early arrivers were to be given "Merry Money" to spend. It was the mention of funny currency that drew my attention and provides me with the excuse to blog. I am sure you have seen examples of local currencies before and you certainly have held Canadian Tire money in your hands. If you wish to go downtown shopping you should get some Downtown Dollars.  As we become more concerned with buying locally and buying Canadian, we are likely to see more examples of local money which will probably look as legitimate as those colourful ones printed at the mint.

LETS - Local Exchange Trading System

   LETS is the technical term and here is the place to learn all about Local Currency Programs. It was not such an easy subject to find information about a decade ago. I recall students asking about it for a project and was able to find some information. It was written up for a little newsletter we produced: The Bottom Feeder, July 2006. Here is what was provided:

LETS

This acronym was new to us and discovered while assisting in an undergraduate research project that was tougher than we expected. Researching the subject is much easier if you look at some of the sources we provide here. LETS typically stands for "Local Exchange Trading System" and less frequently for "Local Employment and Trading System". A good definition is found in a book about the subject: Bridges into Work? An Evaluation of Local Exchange Trading Systems, by Colin Williams, et. al. "Local Exchange Trading Systems (LETS) are non-profit making associations that use local currencies to encourage members to trade services and goods with each other" (p.vi). Two other books in our collections relate directly to the subject: Community and Money: Men and Women Making Change, by Mary-Beth Raddon and Currency Movements as a Challenge to Globalisation? A Case Study of Manchester's Local Currency Networks, by Peter North. While the former book does give some Canadian examples, we will provide here some links to Canadian sites where "community currencies" or "alternative money" is being used in 2006. For information about "Toronto Dollars" see the site of Toronto Dollar Community Projects Inc.

"Calgary Dollars" are described here: http://www.calgarydollars.ca . The Victoria LETS is found at http://www.lets.victoria.bc.ca To find additional examples and to learn more about the use of community currencies see the very interesting journal we discovered along the way. Links to the International Journal of Community Currency Research are provided by searching that title in our catalogue. If you happen to be heading to the West Coast, you can buy some Salt Spring Dollars at http://www.saltspringdollars.com.

  Although the URLS provided are unlikely to work, you can find many local currencies. Here, for example, is information about Salt Spring Dollars and here is an article about how they were attempting to use them in Comox: "Why Comox Valley Is Launching Its Own Currency." 

  Now I think I have stalled long enough and won't have to go out shopping again today.